The Mukwonago Optimist Club proudly sponsors two 7th graders to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Summer Music Camp in July. Each winter, students in the Middle School Band program apply for camp by writing a short essay why they should be chosen and submit (at least) two academic teacher recommendations along with a recommendation from the band director. Each student receives a $250.00 scholarship towards the expense of camp. Following their camp experience, students give a brief presentation and play a piece at one of the Mukwonago Optimist fall meetings.

For more information, please contact Karen at Kkreutz@wi.rr.com or 262-363-6235, or Matt Koscinski, Band Director at the Mukwonago Middle School at 262-363-6292.

Highway Clean-up

Mukwonago Optimists, friends and family give up some of their own time, usually on weekends, to help “Keep America Beautiful.” Several times during the year, we gather with gloves, large trash bags and orange vests to walk County Road of XX in Waukesha.

If you are interested in helping out with this project, please contact our coordinator, Audrey at AWasielewski@citizenbank.com or262-366-4773 for further information.

You can also help by teaching children and others not to toss bottles, cups and cigarette packages out the window or on the ground.

Respect for Law

Respect for Law is an Optimist International program in which our club recognizes the service and dedication of our local law enforcement. A special award is given each spring to a member of the local police departments as nominated by the Chief of police.

Each summer, our members volunteer to work a concession stand (where we only serve beer, soda and water) at each of the concerts held at the Alpine Valley Music Amphitheater. This is our major fund raiser for the year where we are paid on a percentage of our stands sales. Any tips received are also contributed to the club and these funds allow the club to support our programs, activities and donations we do each year. Volunteering at these concerts is great fun and we get to see all the concerts for free. There is work involved, but it is done with a smiling face, side-by-side with fellow members.

This Optimist Club sponsored event was established in 2006 to help showcase the talented youth of our community and also for students to value the importance of giving back and sharing their gifts with others. The performance venue changes to meet the needs of artists. Summertime is a great time for performers to sing or play their instruments for an audience, outside, often under the stars in Mukwonago Park. While a local coffee shop is another great avenue for students to work through performance jitters in a much smaller, more relaxed atmosphere. The ultimate goal of these events is to get students excited about planning all expects of the performances, using our club as a sponsor. Obviously the lessons learned in the planning process are invaluable and provide “real world” learning experiences. Working with students, lesson instructors and teachers, the Optimist Club has become a local liaison to help show our community the wonderful things our youth can do!

If you are close to twelve years old or older and like to fish, then this is a great opportunity for you!

The Mukwonago Optimist Club sponsors an annual “Build a Fishing Rod Day.” The 2012 fishing rod day will be held Saturday, February 18th. On that day, you can come to the Mukwonago United Churchof Christ, located on County Road NN. and you will be guided and assisted in building a fishing rod --- which you can take home with you on Sunday. You must bring an adult helper with you. The day-long event begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at approximately 5:00 p.m. Only 10 students will be selected to attend, so if you are interested, then get your application in early! Application forms may be picked up at the Park View Middle School office, at the Mukwonago Public Library or by clicking HERE. There is no fee for this event and lunch will be served. However, a fee-will offering will be accepted.

The Mukwonago Optimist Club proudly sponsors three academic scholarships for post-secondary studies to graduating seniors from Mukwonago High School each spring. Each scholarship is valued at $500.

The first is for a student who has overcome some kind of obstacle, an experience atypical to the "standard high school experience."

The second scholarship is awarded to an Art, Theatre, or Music student who plans to continue pursuing their studies in one of these fields.

The third scholarship is for a student who displays the Optimist Club Values and Creed.

The scholarship application is the standard application available in the guidance office at MHS. Our scholarships have no minimum GPA requirement and require no additional essay.

For more information on the academic scholarships we provide, please contact Amy at 608-436-1815 or amy.soleimani@gmail.com

Socials

In addition to our numerous events, scholarships, contributions and service to the community, we also have gatherings or member "socials" wherein we engage in good conversation, good fun and good food!

For more information, or if you would like to join us, please contact Amy at 608-436-1815 or amy.soleimani@gmail.com.

Local Tri-Star Basketball Competition

Tri-Star Basketball is an Optimist International sanctioned skills contest that tests 8 to 13 year old boys and girls on shooting, passing and dribbling the basketball.

This program is free to all entrants and there are prize awards, as well as a basketball raffle. The winners in each age group and gender have an opportunity to move on to the district level competition. We typically have 40 to 70 contestants for this program, run in the late winter every year.

The 2012 competition will be Sunday, March 11th from noon-2:30 at the Park View Middle School Gym. There will be no early sign-up, so if you are interested in participating, please come to the gym by noon.

If you are a club contest coordinator, please clickHEREfor a .pdf of the event materials for your local clubs.

The Mukwonago Optimist Club has the honor of hosting the Southern District of Wisconsin Tri-Star Basketball Competition. Each of the 60-plus clubs in the district are invited to send participants from their club local competitions to the district contest. The 2012 Competition will be held on Saturday, April 12th at the Mukwonago High School.

There are district officers and many Optimists from around the district also attend the event held in the spring of each year. Typically between 125 and 175 boys and girls compete in the district competition, making it one of the larger gatherings of kids in the district at a single Optimist event each year.

The essay contest is an event in which high school students under the age of 16 can write an essay about a designated topic. If they win the local contest, there is a monetary reward and they are then eligible to participate at the district level where the top prize is a college scholarship.

If you are a student at Mukwonago high school, please click HERE for the 2011-2012 application.

If you are a student at Eagle-Palmyra high school, please click HERE for the 2011-2012 application.

If you are a student at East Troy high school, please click HERE for the 2011-2012 application.

The summer drama camp is a program for young people from age 7 to 18. It is a week of practicing and performing a musical children’s play and attending acting or musical workshops.. This event is done in cooperation with the Prairie Fire Theater Group of Barrett, Minnesota.